Kansas City, Mo. ? Free State High’s Kyle Cross did something Monday at Kauffman Stadium that not even a Kansas City Royals player has done at ‘The K’ this season: hit a grand slam.

Cross hit the four-run shot onto the roof of the visitor’s bullpen in the second inning of a 23-3 victory over Leavenworth as part of the Frank White Classic.

“It’s an amazing feeling to hit a home run in a big-league park,” said Cross, who went 2-for-4, knocked in six runners and scored three times. “It’s just great to play here, but to actually hit a home run, that’s amazing. : Today, I just wanted to come out and get some base hits, and home runs are just mistake pitches, and I got lucky.”

After scoring two runs in the first inning without even getting a hit, the Firebirds scored another 13 off just five hits in the second.

The first nine batters of the second inning reached base due to an error, three walks and two batters hit or, in a couple of cases, via hits – a single from Adam Rock, the grand slam from Cross and a double by Ben Wilson. All nine of those base-runners came around to score.

“We’re just trying to continue doing what we’ve done all year,” FSHS coach Mike Hill said. “I think at times we’re inconsistent, and last week was kind of a microcosm of our season because we played four games in a row. Two of the days we hit well, and two of the days we didn’t. You’re just at the time of the year where you can’t really afford to not be hitting well, so I think it was good to see that.”

In the third inning, the Firebirds’ exposed the erratic Pioneers pitching by collecting eight runs on seven hits, four of which were for extra bases – triples by John Wilson and Hunter Scheib and doubles from Jordan Dreiling and Andy Petz.

“It’s a deep park so there’s a lot of green space where the ball can go,” said Wilson, who was 2-for-3 with a triple, a double and three runs scored. “I thought we hit the ball pretty well, so it felt good.”

With the lopsided game, Hill was able to give reserves the chance to play in Kauffman.

“I would assume that every kid that’s ever played baseball has dreamed of doing what these kids just got to do,” Hill said. “From that standpoint, it’s a wonderful opportunity for them, and I’m thrilled that they got a chance to do that. All these kids will be able to say to their kids and grandkids that they played in a big-league park : that’s what it’s all about.”

The Firebirds will see the Pioneers again Thursday in the opening round of sub-state at Free State High.

“If you’re not totally focussed on what’s at hand – and that’s Leavenworth again – then you’re setting yourself up,” the Free State skipper said. “And we got a little taste of that a year ago. We beat Leavenworth pretty soundly in the regular season, and then we see them in the first round of regionals, and after an inning we’re down three or four runs and things didn’t look real pretty. Hopefully, the kids remember that.”